Councilman Announces Another Bid For Ocean City Mayor

OCEAN CITY, NJ — Councilman Keith Hartzell will again challenge Jay Gillian for Ocean City mayor, he announced Wednesday.

Hartzell made the official announcement in a short video shared to Facebook.

"Our community is blessed with strong values," Hartzell said. "It keeps the family coming back for generations."

One of those challenges, he noted, was right behind him - the former Gillian's Wonderland Pier.

This will be a rematch for Hartzell and Gillian, who previously faced off in the 2022 mayoral election. The same issues then affect Ocean City now. Hartzell's main focus back then was not allowing high rise hotels on the Boardwalk, which remains an ongoing discussion with the redevelopment of Wonderland.

In his announcement, Hartzell said that his business background will help him "get things done."

"My mission focuses on meaningful and beneficial change rooted in compromise and embracing our shared values, traditions and culture that makes us America's greatest family resort," Hartzell said.

Ocean City's municipal election will be held Tuesday, May 12.